Logisim
Encyclopedia
Logisim is a logic simulator
which permits circuits to be designed and simulated using a graphical user interface. Released under the GNU Public License, Logisim is free software
designed to run under the Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
, and Linux
platforms. Its code is entirely in Java
using the Swing
graphical user interface library. The primary developer, Carl Burch, has worked on Logisim since its inception in 2001.
The software is used most often by students in computer science
classes to design and experiment with digital circuit
s in simulation. Circuits are designed in Logisim using a graphical user interface similar to traditional drawing programs, an interface also found in many other simulators. Unlike most other simulators of Logisim's sophistication, Logisim allows the user to edit the circuit during simulation. The relative simplicity of the interface makes it work well for survey courses. Design features for more sophisticated circuits, such as the "subcircuits" and "wire bundles" found in Logisim, are available in few other open-source graphical tools.
While users can design complete CPU implementations within Logisim, the software is designed primarily for educational use. Professionals typically design such large-scale circuits using a hardware description language
such as Verilog
or VHDL. Logisim is unable to accommodate analog components.
Logic simulation
Logic simulation is the use of a computer program to simulate the operation of a digital circuit. Logic simulation is the primary tool used for verifying the logical correctness of a hardware design. In many cases logic simulation is the first activity performed in the process of taking a hardware...
which permits circuits to be designed and simulated using a graphical user interface. Released under the GNU Public License, Logisim is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
designed to run under the Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
platforms. Its code is entirely in Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
using the Swing
Swing (Java)
Swing is the primary Java GUI widget toolkit. It is part of Oracle's Java Foundation Classes — an API for providing a graphical user interface for Java programs....
graphical user interface library. The primary developer, Carl Burch, has worked on Logisim since its inception in 2001.
The software is used most often by students in computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
classes to design and experiment with digital circuit
Digital circuit
Digital electronics represent signals by discrete bands of analog levels, rather than by a continuous range. All levels within a band represent the same signal state...
s in simulation. Circuits are designed in Logisim using a graphical user interface similar to traditional drawing programs, an interface also found in many other simulators. Unlike most other simulators of Logisim's sophistication, Logisim allows the user to edit the circuit during simulation. The relative simplicity of the interface makes it work well for survey courses. Design features for more sophisticated circuits, such as the "subcircuits" and "wire bundles" found in Logisim, are available in few other open-source graphical tools.
While users can design complete CPU implementations within Logisim, the software is designed primarily for educational use. Professionals typically design such large-scale circuits using a hardware description language
Hardware description language
In electronics, a hardware description language or HDL is any language from a class of computer languages, specification languages, or modeling languages for formal description and design of electronic circuits, and most-commonly, digital logic...
such as Verilog
Verilog
In the semiconductor and electronic design industry, Verilog is a hardware description language used to model electronic systems. Verilog HDL, not to be confused with VHDL , is most commonly used in the design, verification, and implementation of digital logic chips at the register-transfer level...
or VHDL. Logisim is unable to accommodate analog components.